We wait every year for the big names in the gaming industry to release new games for us to be engaged with. However, in the last few years, we feel that the games made by corporate companies are becoming stagnant. So, we checked out a free and online business simulation game. And here are our thoughts about it.
What's Wrong with Today's Video Games?
The major gaming companies are using the same mechanics in every game, no matter what the genre is. They are adding multiplayer modes to almost every game and focusing more on that instead of the story. They are introducing microtransactions and convincing you to buy them - directly or indirectly. In fact, they are so hell-bent on making money that they are injecting DRM protections which sometimes, in turn, deteriorates the performance of games (let's not forget how Denuvo ruined Resident Evil 8).
Among all these, one element of gaming is slowly vanishing - passion. All these games are becoming money-making machines that get boring after a point in time. It feels like the developers are just doing a rinse-and-repeat for all their games and not even thinking about what the players like.
So, are all games going to be the same in the near future? Luckily, the answer is no. There are developers who are giving their best to deliver a game that will not only keep players engaged but will also remain interesting and lovable. Today, we are going to talk about one of them.
Sim Companies
Sim Companies is an online free business simulation game that gives you a great idea about how businesses operate. It was developed by Patrik Beck, a web developer residing in the Czech Republic.
Most online simulation games have an outdated user experience. So, Patrik thought of developing something new. It started out as a hobby. At the beginning of 2016, he finally had a working concept and he purchased a domain.
Then, he kept on updating the game by adding more features and resources. He had his friends test out the game at the early phase of development, which helped him discover lots of bugs and helped him design the economic elements of the game.
Later he made improvements in graphics. Then, he added some more improvements by hiring freelancers.
Once it launched, it was a success. Patrik placed this game on the first page of Google, and soon he started to see the fruits of his labor and investment. Players from around the world started signing up, and they actually enjoyed it. What started as a hobby became a full-time job for this Czech developer.
It is Free!
A lot of great games are locked behind a paywall. However, this online business simulator is completely free.
Its accessibility is not restricted to a web page. You can play this game on PC as well as on your smartphone. Sim Companies is available in the Google Play store and iOS app store for free. Same mechanics, but in a pocket-friendly interface.
Previously, the game had a smaller player base, so server costs were minimal. However, as the number of players is rising, the game has become a lot dependent on third-party services, which are free only if you have low traffic. Nowadays, their servers handle more than 100 requests a second, so the price of maintaining server infrastructure is increasing.
Patrik has no intention of charging money from players who don't want to spend any money. He is thinking about other monetization methods to cover his costs. As for now, he is dependent on the support and donations of players to hire engineers to expand the game and outsource the graphics-related work.
The Experience
We talked about how the passion and hobby of one developer turned into a full-fledged online simulation game. But what kind of experience can you get when playing this game?
To find that out, we went to Sim Companies' website and started playing their game.
At first glance, this may look like other simulator games. But as you keep on playing, you see the magic unfurl.
Once you start the game, you will see a world map with shops and buildings like the grocery store, exchange building, etc. You also have a plantation where you can farm goods and sell them. You have a headquarters where you can manage your business. You also get a couple of construction slots to create new buildings and expand your business.
The mechanics may seem complex to a beginner as this game emulates real-world business models. However, you don't need to worry. Once you sign in, a well-documented tutorial will teach you how you can buy raw materials, farm apples on your plantation, and sell them. Once you complete the tutorial, you will get some cash.
You can even skip the tutorial if you have already played this game before.
One thing we absolutely loved about this game is how well the elements in this game are explained to the players. If you go to the Encyclopedia section, you will see detailed info about all the items, materials, businesses, etc. There is also a production calculator to help you calculate how much time and material is needed for a job.
It may seem a bit complex at first, but once we kept on playing, it all made sense. And you don't have to grind much at first since the game provides you with lots of money and resources to start with. Plus, you get a 12-hour booster which will speed up production and sales by three times.
The possibilities in this game are infinite. From simple raw materials like seeds and water to complex electronics products like processors and displays, everything is available for you to buy. From a simple apple farmer to a multi-million-dollar company that produces airplanes, you can become the owner of any business you want.
The Present and The Future
The game is doing very well right now. Patrik made some investment in localizing the game to ten other languages. He is planning on advertising the game again by using Google Play Store ads.
He has hired another engineer to help with new features. He plans on expanding this game and is working on retention and acquisition. He also has plans about working on a new game in parallel.
A game is nothing without a playerbase. We loved the fact that this game has an active community. These people are always ready to help each other in the Help chat. You can find guides which are always kept up to date by volunteers. A lot of players contribute to this community by regularly supplying articles for the weekly newspaper. The community is engaging, supportive and is growing every day.
So, we are looking at a bright future ahead.
Wrapping Up
This game gives us everything we want. A game that has no paywalls. A game where you can always do new things and never get bored. A game where the developer has transformed his dream into something which makes us feel like we are managing a business in real life. So, we believe that you should definitely check this game out if you want a refreshing gaming experience.
